Railway train route indicating apparatus



Nov. 10,1931.

H. s. YOUNG 1,830,820

RAILWAY TRAIN ROUTE INDICATING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1951 65 Inierlocifng Station 6 Lan t IrlP 4 J5 5 E 2 ign form J5 A) *5 5 XP o ljflT T 2T 16 1T-fj T- B B B 16a 1g! YP 47"- 56+ C c a 1X 1549 4X 5% 44 I C' c c 17a JXA y am v j 2?l 25 9 i8 F5 C C Y C 1;?52 .4I/ y@ W5 1Y I *ui- 48 44' 40 ???g `4511 417;]k fb C c c .ZYA gYA ,IYA

w 1 "1'4'6 "Z5- 58%59 L .ZTL ZTL ITL c @@L- QQ- CL@- mT" 4XL C JKL 0 2XL C 1X1; C 4H YL ZYL c C C 47,'62 m19 27:36 H51 B B B FLg.

3x60 2X5? 1x52 INVENTOR.

g #l1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. l0, 193

UNITED sTaf'rEsv PATENT OFFICE HENRY s. YOUNG, OP wILKINSRune,` PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To 'PHEv UNION SWITCH a SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OP PENNSYLVANIA v Y I RAILWAY TRAIN ROUTE Application filed .Tu'ne 9,

i `My invention relates to railway train routey indicating apparatus, and has for an ob].ect

tion. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the tower indicating apparatus which is controlled by the trackway apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing local indicating apparatus controlled by relays XB and YB.

Similar reference characters' refer to similar parts in all three of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a railway track along which traffic normally moves in the direc'- tion indicated by the arrow. This track is divided by the usual insulated vjoints. into four sections, 1, 2, 3 and 4. A station platform 6 maybe located in section 1,. whereas an interlocking tower 7 may be located at the exit end of section 4. The" interlocking plant associated with this tower includesa switch 65 by virtue of which trains passing through the plant may be allowed to continue on the i by the motorman of a train` standing'at station platform 6. Associated with thesepush main track or may be diverted into another route.

Each track section is provided with a track circuit comprising the usual track relay desig nated by the reference character T with a prefix corresponding to the section. Associated with the section 1 are twomain relaysl 1X and 1Y, as well as two auxiliary relays IXA and IYA. Sections 2 and 3 arefprovided with similar relays, but section t need have only the two main relays 4X and 4Y. Two normally open push buttons XP and YP arev associated with section 1 and are preferably so located` that they maybe operated INRIGATING -APPARATUS 1931' Serial No. 543,037.`

buttons are two indicator relays XB andYB, as well as two cancelling push buttons XC, and YC, whichv may also be conveniently reached by the motorman of the train standing at the platform. o

Located in theinterlocking tower 7 arev three banks of indicating lamps TL, XL and YL, (Fig. 2), which lampsare controlled by the track relays T, the main relays X and Y, and the auxiliary relays XA and YA, as. hereinafter explained.

I will lirst assume that atrain is standing at the station platform 6, and that this train is to continue throu h the interlocking plant 7 on the. main track The motor-man of this.l train will momentarily close push button XP, thereby closing a pick-up circuit for relay 1X.V This circuit is from terminal, B of a suitable. source of current, through push button XP, back contact 8 of cancelling ush button XC, back contact 9 of relay 1Yy ack contact 1() of relay lXA, back contact ,11 of relay lYA, back contact 12 of track relay`1'l`.

and the winding of relay 1X to terminal C of the same source of current. When vrelay 1X closes, a stick relay for this circuit will be-y come closed, which circuit is from terminal B, through a resistor 14, front contact 13 of relay 1X, back contact 10 of relay 1XA,back contact 11 of relay 1YA, back contact 12 ofl track relaylT, andthe winding of relay tol terminal C. It follows that relay 1X will Aremain closedY after the motorman re-` leases push button XP. If section 2 is unoccupied, so that track relay 2T is closed, a pick-up circuit for relay lXA will be closed, this circuit being from terminal B, through front contact 15 of relay 2T, resistor 16, front contact 17 of relay 1X, and thewinding of relay lXA to terminal C. When relayy lXA closes, itwill close a stick circuit for itself, which circuit is from terminal B`,throughV front contact 15 of track relay 2T, resistor 16, frontcontact 18 of Yrelay 1XA, and the wind ing Ofthis relay to terminalCf. The'clos` ing of relay lXA will open at back contactlO tra-in enterstrack section 1, and thereby opens fee Las non e.

spense to the operation of push button XP,"

thecircuit for lamp lTL will be opened at contact 52 of relay 1X,A and lamp 1XL`vill passes fom terminal B, through back contact 5l of "y 1T, front contact 52 of v-relay 1X and lain lXL t-o terminal C. When relay iXi-i subsequently becomes `closed and relay 1,, 1X opens, lamp lXL Will remain lighted because of 'the new circuit Which includes back contact l of relay 1T, back contact 52 of relay 1X, and front contact 53 of relay lXA. The lighting of lamp lXli indicates to the operator of the interlocking tower 7 that the approaching train Which is in section l is to continue on the main track A.

T/hen the front end of this train enters sectionv 2, it rsf'ill open track relay 2T, thereby opening the stick circuit for relay iXi/X at contact l5. At the same time a pick-up circuit for relay 2X Will be closed, which circuit is from terminal B, through hack contact 15 of track relay 2T, front contact 19 of relay lXA, srand the Winding of relay 2X to terminal C.

Relay lX is slow-releasing in character,

thereby providing ampletime for relay 2X to close after the stick circuit for rela 1 lXA is opened at front contact l5. `When relay 2X elves, it will close a stick circuit for itself,

which circuit includes back contact l5 of track y 2T and front contact 20 of relay 2X.

'ng again to Fig. 2, the opening of relay llt-LA Will extinguish lamp lXL, and the closing of relay 2X Will cause lamp 2XL to become lighted, the circuit for this lamp c" iding back contact 5G of track relay 2T Contact 57 of relay 2X.

ith relay 2X closed, and asiuining that 45 on 3 is unoccupiec, relay QXA Will be'- c e e ized by Virtue of a circuit Which fles front contact 2l of track relay 3T "out Contact of relay 2K. Lamp lTL interlocking tower indicator Will beted after relay lA releases, but will become extinguished as soon end of the train passes out of ysecrear en the front end of the train enters secit Will open track relay 3T, thereby a `pick-up circuit for relay 3X, which circuit includes back contact^2l of relay 3T and front conta ct23 of relay QXL The opening offrent contact 2l of relay 3T will open circuit for relay 2Xr`i, so that this relay vwill release aftera sur'licient interval of time has elapsed to allowv relay 3X to close. Re? lay 2K Will remain closed, however, until the rear end of the train passes out of seclt follows that While the train is ,the

become lignted by Virtue of a circuit Which' bridging sections 2 and 3, indicator lamps 2XL and 3XL will' both be lighted, Whereas When the rear end of the train passes ont of the section 2, lamp 2XL Will be extinguished.

AAfter relay SXcloses, it Will close a stick circuit for itself, Which includes back contact 2l of relay 3T and front contact 24 of relay 3X. It follows that this relay will remain closed after relay 2XA releases.

TWith the train occupying section 3, and assuming that section l is unoccupied', relay SKA Will close by Virtue of a circuit which includes front Contact 25 of relay 4T and 4frontcontact 26 of relay 8X. Then when the train enters section et, it Will open track e@ relay 4T, thereby closing a pick-up circuit for relay 4X, which circuit includes back contact 25 ofrelay 4T and front contact 27 of relaySXi. As soon as relay 4X closes, it will close a stick circuit for itself, which cir- -v cuit includes back contact 25 of track relay 4T and front Contact 28 of relay 4X, so that the latter relay Willv remain closed after relayv SXA releases due to the opening of front contact 25 of relay 4T. TvVhen the rear er; end of the train passes out ofy section 3, relay 3X will release, because its stick circuit ivill'be open at Vback contacti2l of relay 3T.

While the train is bridging sections 3 and 4, lamps and 4XL will be lighted, but c5 lamp 3XL Will become vextinguished as soon as the rear end of the train leaves section 3. 7When the train leaves section il, relay 4X Will release, thereby extinguishing lamp 4XL.

l will new assume that a train is standing ata station platform, and that the motor man operates push button YP. This Will close a pick-up circuit for relay'lY, which circuitpasses from terminal B, through push button YP, back-v contact 29 of push button YQfback Contact 30 of relay-1X, back contact 3l of relay l-YA, back contact 32 of relay` lXA, .back contact 33 of track relayV 1T, and the Winding ofrelay lY to terminal C. It follows'that relay lY cannot be closed, unim less all four relays 1T, 1X, lXA and lYA are'open. lllhen relay lY becomes closed, it will close a stick circuit for itself which eX- cludes push button YP, this stick circuit beingfrom terminal B, through resistor Set, front Contact 35 of relay lY, back contact 31 of'relay lYA, back contact 32 of relay lXA, back contact 53 of relay 1T, and the Windingof relay lY to terminal C. l/Vith relay lY closed and track section 2 unoccu- '5.0i pied, a pick-up circuit for relay lYA will be closed, `Which circuit is from terminal B, through front contact 36 of track relay 2T, resistor 16a, Contact 87 of relay Y, and the Winding of relay lYA to terminal C. Rer lay TA Will then'remain closed as'long as trackrelay 2T is closed, because ofA a stick circuit which includes front Contact 36 of re lay 2T and Vfrontco-ntact 38 of relay lYA.

f `With either'relay IY or lYA closed, indidrawings and from the foregoing-description; The lighting of this lamp will indicate to the operator at the interlocking plant. that the train which is occupying section 1- is to be diverted `from track'A by the switch 65;

Assuming that this trainpasses through sections 2, 3 and 4, the Y relays associatedl with these sections will be operated in a manner which correspondsexactly to the operan tion of. the X relays, explained hereinbe'fore, 1

and,.consequently, a detailedvtracing of the circuits for the Y relays will be unnecessary. Itis sufficient to say that as the trainpasses through sections 2, 3 and Ll, indicator `lamps 2YL', SYL and LYL will be successively lighted.

I will now assumethatthe inotorman of ya first train has operated push buttonXP, and that the train has passed intoA section 2, and that the motorman .of a second train occupy ing section l operates push button YP.V Belay lY will become energized by'virtue ot the circuit traced hereinbei'ore, vbut relay lYA will not become energized, because its circuit will be opened at the front point ot contact 36 ot track relay 2T. This brings out the reason for theV auxiliary relays lXA, lYA, etc. It relay 2Y were controlled directly by relay lY instead of -by relay lYA, then un. der the Vcondition whiclrhasjust been assumcd, relay 2Y would close, dueto the fact that the track relay 2T is opened, and, consequently, would give false indication 1n the interlocking tower, because both lamps 2XL and 2YL would be lighted. By pro riding relay lYA, however, the apparatus .is so arranged that` under the assumed condition, lamp 2XL will be lighted to indicate that the main line train is in section v2, and lamp lYLk will be lighted. to indicate that the branch line train is in section 1.

The operation ot the apparatus during the continued progress of these two trains through sections 2, 3 and l will be understood without detailed explanation..

It will be noted that it' a train leaves th station platform 6 'without either pushbut.- ton XP or YP having been operated, lamps lTL, 2TL, 3TL and LTL willbe successively lighted as the train passes through sections l, 2, 3 and 4, thereby indicating to the operator of the interlocking planteither that the motorman has ailedto operate ,one of the push buttons, or that the main andauxiliary relays have tailed to operate in response to theclosing ot a push button.l y ,Y Y

As soon as push button XP is closed, an indicator relay XB will become closed by virtue oi a circuit which will be obvious Afrom the drawings. Contact 49 ot'this relay .will

light an indicator lamp XBL (see Figari?)- which is preferablyrl'ocated in' such a position that it can be seen by the inotorinan of AfterV push button XP is released, relay XB will-remain closed, provided that relay 1X closespthe circuifthbeing from terminal B, through resistor .14, kfront contact 13 of relay 1X, back contact 9 of relay 1Y., cancelling push-button contactlS, and lthe winding oit' vrelay XB to terminal G. f Afterrelay 1X1-rA closesland relay 1X opens, relay XB will still remain closed by' a circuit which passes from terminal B, through 'resistor 14:, front con-tact otrelay vlXA', back contact 9 of relay lY, push'button contact 8, andthe winding ot relay `XB to terminal C. It follows that re lay XB will remain energized until relay l lXA opens, and so it follows that lamp XBL will remain lighted until Yit isy proper vfor either vpush but-ton to Ibe operated to .transmit a new indication .to the interlocking tower.` Pushfbutton Y fand the relays associated therewith control an indicator relay YB in a similar manner, and contact 50 `of this. relay controls an indicator lamp YBL.

` It the motorman operates push buttonXP when he should have operated push button YP, 'and it he discovers the error before leavingthe station platform, he may deenergize relay 1X by operating the cancelling push button XC, thereby connecting both terminals of relay 1X with termi-nal C through cat-or lamp' lYL will be lighted byvirtue of the vrtrain standing vat the station platform.: a circuit which will be obvious `from jthe contact. lf :relaylXA has closed before the error is discovered, theoperation` ot push buttonXC wi'lljplace thisrelay on lshort circuit by connecting both yof its terminals with terminal C, through contact 66 of push button Si1nilarly,push button YC may vbe utilized to cancel an improper operation of push button YP, the operation of this cancelling push button being obvious from the foregoing explanationwof'the operation of push button XC.

Although I'have herein shown-Hand described only one forni of. apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that va rious changes andmoditica'tions may be made therein within the scope y of the y appended 'claims withoutdeparting from thespirit-and scope of my invention.

kHaving thus described. my invention, whatv Vpus'hlouttons XP and YP associated with the iirst section and-corresponding to said X and VY relays respectively, means Yfor closing either main relay for the 'rst lsection when the associated track relay is opent and the associated vpush button is closedtproi'fided the `other relaysv for suchisection rarer open, and

for `subsequently keeping suchv main .relay closed .as long .as lsuch` trackrelay andy yboth auxiliary relays for the sectionfremain open ;v

means for closing either auxiliary relay forV the rst section when the associated main relay and the track relay for the second section are closed and for. keeping it closed until` keeping it closed untill such trackrelay closes means for closing eitherauxiliary relay for each of 4said succeeding sections whenthe associated main relay and thetrack relay for the section next in advance are closed", andindicating means controlled by said'main and auxiliary relays. f

2. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive sections, a track relay for each section, a main X relay and a main Y relay for each section, an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y relay for eachsection, two normally open push buttons XP and YP associated with the irst section and corresponding to said X and Y relays respectively, means for closing either main relay for the rst section when the associated track relay is open and the associated push button is closed provided the other relays for such section are open, and for subsequently keepingsuch main relay closed as long as such track relay and both auxiliary relays for the -section remain open; means for closing eitherauxiliary relay for the first section when the associated main relay and the track relay for the second section are closed and for keeping it closed until such such track relay opens; means for closing either main relay for each succeeding section when the associated track relay is open and the corresponding auxiliary relay for the section next inthe rear is closed, and for keeping it closed until such track relay closes; means for closing either auxiliary relay for each ot said succeedingsections when the associated main relay and the track relay forthe section next in advance are closed; an X and a Y indicating lampL for each section, and means for lighting either lamp for each section when the associated track relay is open and the corresponding` main relay is closed. Y

3. In combination, a. stretch of railway track divided. into a plurality of successive sections, a track relay foreach section, a main X relay and a main Y relay for each section, an auxiliary X relay and an-auxil iary Y relay for each section, two normally open push buttons XP and YP associated with the iirst section and corresponding to said X and Y relays respectively, means for closing' either main relay for the first section when the associated track relay is open and the associated push button is closed provided the other relays for such sect-ion are open, and

for subsequently Akeeping such main relay Vclosed as long as such track relay and both auxiliary relays for the section remain open; means for closing either auxiliary relay for the iirst section when the associated main relay and the track'relay for the second section are closed and for keeping it closed until such track relay opens; means for closing either main relay for each succeeding section when the associated track relay is open and the corresponding auxiliary relay for the section next in the rear is closed, and for keeping it closed until such track relay closes; means for closing either auxiliary relay or each of said succeeding sections when the associated main relay and the track relay for the section next in advance are closed; an X and a Y and a track indicating lamp for each section, means for lighting the track indicatinglamp for each section when the associated track relay is open and the associated main relays are open, and means for lighting either the X or the Y lamp for each section when the associated track relay is Y open and the corresponding main relay is closed 4. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive sections, a track relay for each section, a main X relay and a main Y relay for each section, an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y relay for each section, two normally open push buttons XP and YP associated with the first section and corresponding to said X and Y relays respectively, means for closing either main relay for the first section when the associated track relay is open and the associated push button is closed provided the other relays for such section are open, and for subsequently keeping such main relay closed as long as such track relay and both auxiliary relays for the section remain open; means for closing either auxiliary relay for the first section when the associated main relay and the track relay for the second section are closed and for keeping it closed until such track relay opens; means for closing either main relay for each succeeding section when the'associated track relay is open and the corresponding auxiliary relay for the section next in the rear is closed, and for keeping it closed until such track relay closes; means for closing either auxiliary relayV Jfor each oi said succeeding 'sections when the associated main relay and the track relay tor the section next in advance are closed; indicating means controlled by said main and auxiliary relays, and other means associated with said first section for indicating the conditions of the main and auxiliary relays for such section. v

5. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of successive sections, a track relay for each section, a Ymain X relay and a main Y relay for each section,

an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y relay for each section, two normally open push buttons XP and YP associated with the first section and corresponding to said X and Y relays respectively, means for closing either main relay for the first section when the associated track `relay is open and the associated push button is closed provided the other relays for such section are open, and

for subsequently keeping such main relay closed as long as such track relay and both auxiliary relays for the section remain open; means for closing either auxiliary relay for the first section when the associated main relay and the track relay for the second section are closed and for keeping it closed until such track relay opens; means for closing either main relay for each succeeding section when the associated track relay is open and the corresponding auxiliary relay for the section next in the rear is closed, and for keeping it closed until such track relay closes; means for closing either auxiliary relay for each of said succeeding sections when the associated main relay and the track rrelay for the section next in advance are closed; indicating means controlled by .saidniain and auxiliary relays, and manually operable means associated with said first section for opening either of the main or either of the auxil?` ary relays for such section.

6. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a yplurality of successive sections, a track relay for each section, a inain X relay and a main Y relay for each section, an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y ielay for each section, means for closing either main relay for the first section when the associated track relay is open, provided therother relays for such section are open and for subsequently keeping such main relay closed as long as such track relay and both auxiliary relays for the section are open, means forl closing either auxiliary relay for the first section when the associated main relay and the track relay for the second section are closed, and for keeping it closed until such track relay opens, means for closing each main relay for each succeedingsection when the associated track relay is open and the corresponding auxiliary relay for the section next in the rear is closed and Jfor keeping it closed until such track relay closes, means for closing either auxiliary relay for each of said succeeding sections when the associated main relay and the track relay for the section next in advance are closed, and indicating means controlled by said main and auxiliary relays.

7. In combination, 'a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of sections, a main X relay and a main Y relay for each section, an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y relay for each section, means for closing either main relay for the first section provided the other relays for such section are open, and

`for subsequently. keeping such main -relay closing the main yrelay for each succeeding Asection whenthe-section is occupied and the corresponding auxiliary relay vfor the section next in the rear is closed, and for keeping it closed as long as the section is occupied, means for closing either auxiliary relay for each of said succeeding sections when the associated main relay is closed and the next section in advance is unoccupied, and indicating means controlled by said main and kauxiliary relays.

8. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of sections, a main X relay and a main Y relay for each section, an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y relay for each section, means for closing either main relay for the first section provided the other relays for such section are open, and for subsequently keeping `such,

main relay closed as long as a train occupies thesection, means for closing either auxiliary relay for the first section when the associated main relayis closed and the second section is unoccupied, and for keeping it closed until a train enters the second section, means for* closing the main relay for each succeeding section when the section is occupied and the i corresponding auxiliary relay for the section'i next in the rear is closed, and for keeping it* closed as long as the section is occupied,means"f-l for closing either auxiliary relay for each of said succeeding sections when the associated 4main relay is closed and the next section in advance is unoccupied, an X and a Y indicating lamp for each section, and means forl'A lighting either lamp' for each section when the corresponding main relay is closed.

9. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a plurality of sections, a

mainX relay and a main Y relay for each-L section, an auxiliary X relay and an auxiliary Y relay for each section, means for closing either main relay for the first section provided the other relays for such section are open, and for subsequently keeping such mainrelay closed as long as a train occupies the section, means for closing either auxiliary relay for the first section when the associated main relay is closed and the second section is unoccupied, and for keeping it closed untilf a train enters the second section, means for closing the main relay for each succeeding section when the section is occupied andthe corresponding auxiliary relay for the section next in the rear is closed, and for keeping iti* 'f closed as long as the section is occupied, means for closing either auxiliary 'relay for each of said succeeding sections when the associated mainA relay is closed and the next section in advance is unoccupied, anX and a Y and a track lamp for each Section, means for *lighting the track lamp for each section when the section is occupied and the associated Vmain relays are open, and means for lighting either the X or the Y lamp for each section when the section is occupied and the corresponding main relay is closed.

In testimony whereof I'af'x my signature.

' HENRY S. YOUNG. 

